Continued airspace restrictions, route adjustments, bypassing of conflict-led regions, refueling halts, longer flying hours, and jet fuel price hikes have forced Air India to take drastic measures, such as suspending nonstop flights to and from Chicago, ORD Airport. This is among weekly 200 round-trip services being removed from Air India’s schedule, June to August 2026.
List of Air India’s suspended routes and reduced services to USA
- Delhi-Chicago: Suspended from June 1 through October 2026
- Delhi to Newark EWR: Suspended from June 1 through August 2026
- Mumbai to New York JFK: Suspended from June 1 through August 2026
- Delhi to SFO: Reduced frequency, from 10x to 7x weekly
- Bengaluru to SFO: No more nonstop
- Mumbai to SFO: No more nonstop
In September 2025, long-haul aircraft shortage drove Air India to drop direct flights, Washington Dulles to New Delhi, from its schedule. Since then, this high-demand route has remained suspended. Moreover, SFO to Mumbai and Bengaluru routes have been operating as one-stop or two-stop itineraries with technical halts for refueling. Air India’s US-India route network shrinks further over temporary removal of direct flights to Chicago, Newark (from Delhi), and New York (from Mumbai).
However, New Delhi-JFK, the busiest route for nonstop Air India flights between India and USA, remains unaffected. The 7x weekly service continues to be in effect on this route. Surprisingly, Air India’s summer 2026 schedule includes Mumbai to Newark flights with increased frequency, 3x weekly to 7x weekly.
Alternate options for Chicago to Delhi travel
Though Air India suspended the Chicago-Delhi nonstop service through August 2026, you can still travel this route with the airline. Air India’s interline partners, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, make it possible. Alaska Airlines or United will connect you from ORD Airport to JFK Airport for nonstop Air India flights from New York to Delhi. You can opt for Air India itineraries including domestic connection to/from Chicago O’Hare Airport. Precisely, Chicago to India travel ceases to be nonstop or direct.
Or, you can find alternate airlines and their best Chicago to India flight deals on IndianEagle.com, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in USA. You can also call +1800-615-3969 (toll-free) for exclusive phone-only deals. We listed below some of the cheapest ORD-DEL fares from our airline partners (international fares are highly dynamic these days and subject to change any time):
- Emirates, EK
- Fare: $485 to $500
- Date: MON, 15 August 2026
- Qatar Airways, QR
- Fare: $417 to $430
- Date: WED, 12 August 2026
- Gulf Airlines, GF
- Fare: $536 to $550
- Date: TUE, 28 July 2026
- Japan Airlines, JL
- Fare: $573 to $600
- Date: MON, 13 July 2026
No direct ORD-DEL service is a blessing in disguise
“The Chicago-Delhi direct service cut-off is, rather, an opportunity for Midwest Indians to experience Air India’s best, newest aircraft A350 with world-class amenities and premium economy seats. This long-range, fuel-efficient aircraft operates nonstop AI flights on the JFK-DEL route. It offers top-notch business class flight experience that has earned Air India high ratings and rave reviews from celebrities, as well as industry professionals,” said Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor of Travel Beats, a leading aviation news portal.
Air India’s rebook and refund details for affected bookings
You must keep your contact details, including phone number and email ID, up-to-date with Air India and your travel agent, as they are sending travel alerts, schedule change notifications, and rebooking options to affected passengers. The airline is offering to rebook affected travel or refund bookings for the cancelled routes.
Rebook alternate itinerary: Air India may offer to rebook your travel on an alternate route for the originally booked schedule or a change of dates. For instance, you may get rebooked an AI flight from Delhi to JFK, or Mumbai to Newark for the cancelled Delhi-Newark or Mumbai-JFK service, from June 1 to August 31, 2026.
Claim a refund: If alternate itineraries with the originally booked schedule or a change of travel dates don’t suit your travel plans, you can request cancellation of the affected booking and claim a refund against it.
“Usually, an altogether new booking just four weeks before summer travel costs way more than your previously booked tickets. Yet, we can get you the best flight deals from other airlines,” said the chief ticketing officer of IndianEagle.com.
